Sleep hygiene is a set of behavioral and environmental practices intended to promote consistent, restful, and uninterrupted sleep. These practices are non-pharmacological interventions that address modifiable factors influencing sleep quality and duration. Optimizing sleep hygiene is a fundamental pillar of hormonal health, as poor sleep profoundly disrupts the circadian rhythm and the secretion patterns of critical hormones like cortisol, growth hormone, and melatonin. Implementing these practices is essential for metabolic, cognitive, and physical recovery and long-term health.
Origin
The term combines “sleep,” the natural periodic state of rest, and “hygiene,” from the Greek hygieinē, meaning health or cleanliness. The concept gained prominence in the field of sleep medicine in the 1970s as a primary behavioral prescription for managing insomnia and other sleep disorders. It is now universally recognized as a crucial component of preventative medicine.
Mechanism
The mechanism relies on establishing and reinforcing the body’s natural circadian rhythm and optimizing the external environment to facilitate sleep onset and maintenance. Behavioral elements, such as maintaining a consistent sleep-wake schedule, help synchronize the internal biological clock. Environmental factors, like minimizing light and noise exposure, ensure the appropriate signaling for melatonin release and prevent arousals that fragment the sleep architecture, thereby allowing for the
Reversing high cortisol is a gradual process of restoring your body's natural rhythm, typically requiring weeks to months of consistent lifestyle changes.
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